Programme Improvement: Analysis of Internship Assessment of the Bachelors of Languages and Communication Degree at One University in Zimbabwe

Authors

  • Stella Muchemwa Languages and Communication Department, Solusi University, Zimbabwe

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23918/ijsses.v4i4p64

Keywords:

Internship, Bachelor of English and Communication, Supervisor Reports

Abstract

 Internship has become a significant part of undergraduate training in the universities world over. It can be described as a window through which programme coordinators can see their programme-worth and improve them. This content analysis research focused on internship assessments of the Bachelor of English and Communication degree programme of one university in Zimbabwe. The study used internship assessment forms written by the supervisors of 28 students who have been on internship for 8 months from January to August of 2016 and 2017. The researcher collected and analyzed these internship supervisors’ assessment forms. The obtained data was categorized according to the themes that emerged. Finding showed that strengths of the internees, as exposed by the supervisors’ assessment forms, outweighed, by far, the weaknesses. The strengths of the students included: initiative and passionate for work; collaborative and time conscious; standard English language command; welcoming behavior; leadership qualities; professional dressing and potential to improve. An outstanding strength of the programme was the adequate internship period. The weaknesses revealed by the study encompasses: students’ incompetence in relation to other related activities, for instance, compiling statistical reports and local language barriers. Based on these findings of the study as well as the internees supervisors’ recommendations, this study recommends an increase from one to two of internship assessments. Also, the Communication component of the Bachelor of English and Communication degree need to be furnished with news writing, featured speech writing, video editing and filming as well as social media courses. The study also recommends that the university should have a radio station so that students have a fair experience of what they will encounter on attachment and job market. Finally, the university should broaden the general knowledge of the students on global events.

References

American University. (2017) Internship basics. Retrieved from https://american.edu/careercenter/intern/

Ayarkwa, J., Adinyira, E., & Osei-Asibey, D. (2012). Industrial training of construction students: Perceptions of training organizations in Ghana. Education + Training, 54 (2/3), 234-249. https://dx.doi.org/10.1108/00400911211210323

Bringle, R. G., Hatcher, J. A., & Richard, N. (2010). The Role of Service-Learning on the Retention of First-Year Students to Second Year. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/2027/spo.3239521.0016.203

Chibwe, A. (2014). A field attachment report. Retrieved from https://slideshare.net/AlieChibwe/field-attachment-report-alie-chibwe

Cohen, S. (2014). Some thought on the importance of internships as part of an undergraduate Program

Connor, A., & Raile, A. (2015). Millennials’ get a ‘real job’: Exploring generational shifts in the colloquialism’s characteristics and meanings. Management Communication Quarterly, 29 (2), 276-290.

D’Abate, C., Youndt, M., & Wenzel, K. (2010). Making the most of an internship: An empirical study of internship satisfaction. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 8(4), 527-539.

Diab, P. (2013). Review of final-year medical students’ rural attachment at district hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal:Student perspectives. Retrieved from https://tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/20786204.2014.10844584

Donkor, F., Nsoh, S. N. J., & Mitchual, S. J. (2009). Assessment of supervised industrial attachment of a technical and vocational teacher education program in Ghana.

Du Pré, R.H. (2010). Universities of Technology in the context of the South African higher education landscape. Universities of Technology: Deepening the Debate. Kagisano, 7, 1-41.

Furco, A. (2010). The Community as a Resource for Learning: An Analysis of Academic ServiceLearning in Primary and Secondary Education. Paris, France: OECD.

Gumbe, S. M., Svotwa, T. D., & Mupambireyi, F. P. (2012). Students’ Perspectives of the Industrial Attachment Programme: A study of University of Zimbabwe, Faculty of Commerce (2010-2011). International Journal of Physical & Social Sciences, 2(9), 12-36. https://amstat.org/education/curriculumguidelines.cfm.

Jenkins, A., & Sheehey, P. (2011). A checklist for implementing service-learning in higher education. Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship, 4(2), 52-60.

Kathuri-Ogola, L., VanLeeuwen, C., Kabaria-Muriithi, J., Weeks, L. E., Kieru, J., & Ndayala, P. (2015). Attachment. Journal of Education and Practice, 6 (17). Retrieved from www.iiste.org

Matamande, W., Nyikahadzoi, L., & Taderera, E. (2013). An Investigation of the Effectiveness of Work Related Learning: A Case of the Industrial Attachment Program Offered by the Faculty of Commerce, University of Zimbabwe. Journal of Instructional Pedagogies, 12. Retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1097133

Munyoro, G., Nyandoro, Z. F., & Musekiwa, M. (2016). Man an evaluation of the student industrial attachment programme in Zimbabwe: A case study of Chinhoyi University of Technology. International Journal of Research in Business Management, 4(8), 1-16.

Mupfumira, I. M., & Mutsambi, T. P. (2012). An evaluation of demonstration and industrial attachment as strategies in implementing clothing curriculum: A case study of a Masvingo Polytechnic in Zimbabwe. Journal of African Studies and Development, 4(4), 114.

Phillips, A., Bolduc, S. & Gallo, M. (2013). Curricular placement of academic service-learning in higher education. Journal of Higher Education and Engagement. 17(4), 75-96. Quality Standards for Service Learning Activities. (2016). Wolfgang Stark (University of DuisburgEssen). Retrieved from https://blogs.helsinki.fi/europe-engage/files/2016/03

Rayner, G., & Papakonstantinou, T. (2015). Student Perceptions of Their Workplace Preparedness: Making Work-Integrated Learning More Effective. Asia-Pacific Journal of Cooperative Education , 16 (1)13-24. Retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1113532

Rupande, G., & Bukaliya, R. (2013). Challenges of integrating work related learning among open and distance learning students at the Zimbabwe Open University. International Journal of Advanced Research, 1(10), 658-668. Retrieved from https://journalijar.com

Svotwa, T. D., Rudhumbu, N., & Chikari, G. (2014). Perception of industry in Botswana towards Botho University student industrial attachment (SIA) programme. The Business and Management Review, 5(2), 205.

Tinto, V. (2012). Completing College: Rethinking Institutional Action. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL. University of Rochester (2017). Internships. Retrieved from https://rochester.edu/internships/students/index.html

Downloads

Published

01.06.2018

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Muchemwa, S. (2018). Programme Improvement: Analysis of Internship Assessment of the Bachelors of Languages and Communication Degree at One University in Zimbabwe. International Journal of Social Sciences & Educational Studies, 4(4), 64-79. https://doi.org/10.23918/ijsses.v4i4p64

Similar Articles

1-10 of 272

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.